Shoe clamping device



Jan. 19, 1937. J. PAvoNl SHOE CLAMPING DEVICE Filed 001:. 31, 1935 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE CLAMPING DEVICE Application October 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,553

3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to clamping devices. More particularly the invention relates to that type of clamp device which is designed primarily for use by shoe makers and shoe repair men in repairing, or applying patches to, shoes and like articles and comprises (1) a pair of elongated clamping members which are pivotally connected together by a pin between the intermediate or central parts thereof and are shaped to form jaw parts at their front ends and handle parts at their rear ends; and (2) a spring which extends between and is applied to the handle parts of the clamping member and operates to urge or force the jaw parts together.

One object of the invention is to provide a clamping device of this type which is well adapted for its intended purpose by reason of the fact that the intermediate parts of the elongated clamping members extend diagonally with respect to the handle parts and the jaw parts and are pivotally connected together in such a manner that the jaw parts are offset with respect to the handle parts and hence may be readily applied to the toe or front portions of shoes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe clamping device of the type and character under consideration in which the clamping members are formed of metal strips and the outer extremities of the jaw parts of the members embody rectangular shoe-engaging jaw plates and are twisted so that they serve to hold the jaw plates in opposed or oppositely facing relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe clamping device of the last mentioned character in which the rectangular jaw plates are pivotally connected to the twisted extremities of the jaw parts of the clamping members so that they may be set or positioned in different angular positions with respect to the members in order to adapt the device for application to any portion of a shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe clamping device of the type and character heretofore mentioned in which the jaw plates are conoavo convex so as to fit readily the general contour of any portion of a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe clamping device of the type and character here under consideration which is adapted in connection with the repair of a cracked shoe to hold a patch between the cracked portion of the leather and the contiguous portion of the lining during setting of a coating of patch securing or attaching adhesive and is characterized by the fact that the jaw plate which is designed to fit against the leather has a facing of sponge rubber which when the plate to which it is applied is in clamped relation tends evenly to distribute the clamping Dlessure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shoe clamping device which is generally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present clamping device will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective of a shoe clamping device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a leather patch which is adapted to be positioned beneath the crack in the leather portion of a shoe and, pending drying of a coating adhesive on the top face thereof, held in place by the device;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the patch after the marginal portion of the grain has been removed so as to provide a roughened surface for the adhesive;

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the patch of Figure 2 inserted in place beneath the cracked leather portion of a shoe;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the shoe of Figure 3 illustrating the manner in which adhesive material is applied to the top face of the patch;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the jaw plates on the twisted outer extremities of the jaw parts of the clamping members operate to clamp the patch between the cracked leather portion of the shoe and the subjacent or contiguous portion of the lining;

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the device in its clamped position with respect to the shoe; and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View showing the manner in which the concavo convex jaw plates are pivotally connected to the twisted extremities of the jaw parts of the clamping members.

The clamping device which forms the subject matter of the invention is designed primarily for use in repairing with a patch P a shoe S having a crack C in the leather portion thereof. It is essentially a repair tool for a shoemaker or shoe repairman and comprises as the main or essential parts thereof a pair of elongated clamping members 8 and 9 and a spring Hi.

The clamping member 8 is formed of a narrow strip of metal and is bent and shaped so that it consists of an intermediate part I l, a handle part l2 and a jaw part l3. The intermediate part II, as shown in Figure 1, extends obliquely at approximately an angle of 135 with respect to the jaw and handle parts and serves to ofiset the handle part longitudinally with respect to the jaw part l3. The outer extremity of the: jaw part is bent away from the intermediate part II and is twisted or bent so that it extends at right angles to the other parts of the clamping member 8 and forms a fiat jaw l4. A rectangular metallic jaw plate I5 fits against the jaw l4 and is attached to the latter by means of a bolt 16 and a wing nut l'l. This plate is concavo convex and is adapted as hereinafter described to be brought into clamping relation with the leather portion of the shoe S in connection with application of the patch P for crack repairing purposes. In order to protect the leather portion of the shoe against abrasion and with a View of equally distributing the clamping pressure a tubular piece l8 of sponge rubber or like elastic or resilient material is sleeved over the plate [5. The convex side of the plate fits against the jaw M and, as shown in Figure 6, a spacing washer I3 is interposed or positioned between the outer portion of the tubular piece 18 and the adjacent or contiguous face of the jaw M. The bolt It consists of a head Mi and an externally threaded shank lfi and extends through a hole 20 in the central portion of the plate l5. The head IE5 of the bolt is disposed in a countersink 2| in the plate so that the outer face thereof is flush with the inner face of said plate 15. The shank N5 of the bolt extends through a hole 22 in the outer portion of the tubular sponge rubber piece l8 and also extends through a hole 23 in the jaw I4. It passes through the spacing washer l9 and projects beyond the jaw M. The wing nut I1 is applied to the projecting end of the shank of the bolt and is adapted when tightened to draw or move the bolt axially and cause it to clamp the plate l5 and sponge rubber piece l8 against the jaw 14. When the nut is loosened the plate I5 is free to swing with respect to the jaw and may be set into any desired angular position. The clamping member 9, like the member 8, is formed from a strip of metal. It is positioned in opposed relation with respect to the member 8 and is bent and shaped so that it consists of an intermediate part 2 3, a handle part 25 and a jaw part 25. The intermediate part 24 extends obliquely approximately at an angle of 135 with respect to the jaw and handle parts and serves longitudinally to offset the handle part 25 relatively to the jaw part 26. The portion of the clamping member 9 at the juncture of the intermediate part 24 and the handle part 25 fits against the portion of the clamping member 8 at the juncture of the intermediate part I l and the jaw part l3. and said two portions are pivotally connected together by means of a rivet 21. The latter constitutes an articulation point or fulcrum whereby the jaw parts of the two clamping members are swung together into clamped relation when the handle parts of the members are urged outwards and are swung away from one another into an open position when the handle parts of the two members are swung toward one another. By locating the rivet 21 as hereinbefore pointed out and by having the intermediate parts of the clamping members 8 and 9 arranged diagonally at approximately an angle of 135 with respect to the jaw and handle parts, the handle part 25 of the clamping member 9 is longitudinally aligned with respect to the jaw part l3 of the member 8 and the intermediate part 24 of the clamping member 9 is aligned with the intermediate part ll of the member 8 when the two members are in their clamping position. In addition the jaw parts of the two members are offset with respect to the handle parts and may be readily applied to the shoe in connection with application of the patch P to the crack C. The outer extremity of the jaw part 26 of the clamping member 9 is bent towards the outer extremity of the jaw part l3 of the clamping member 8 and is twisted or bent at right angles so as to form a jaw 28. This jaw is positioned directly opposite and extends parallel to the jaw i l of the clamping member 8 and carries a rectangular metallic jaw plate 29. The latter is concavo convex. It is curved or arched conformably with the jaw plate l5 and is connected to the jaw plate 28 by a bolt 30 and a wing nut 3! The bolt 38 extends through a hole 29 in the central portion of the jaw plate 29 and consists of a head 35 and an externally threaded shank 38 The head 35 is positioned in a countersink 32 in the plate 29 and the outer face thereof is smooth and flush with the inner face of the jaw plate 29. The shank 30 of the bolt extends through a washer 33 between the plate 29 and the jaw 28 and projects through a hole 34 in the jaw. The nut 3E is applied to the projecting end of the shank of the bolt and serves when tightened to draw or force the bolt axially and to cause it to clamp the jaw plate 28 against the washer 33 and the jaw 28. When the nut 3| is loosened the jaw plate 29 may be angularly adjusted with the jaw plate 5. The plate 29 is adapted to fit within the shoe S and is not covered with a tubular piece and hence serves to provide a stiff or rigid backing for the jaw plate [5.

The spring I serves to force the jaw parts of the clamping members 8 and 9 towards one another. It is positioned between the handle parts of the two clamping members and consists of a wire coil 35 and a pair of wire arms 36 and 31. The arm 36 is connected at one end thereof to one end of the coil 35 and its other end is bent outwards at right angles and extends through a hole 38 in the outer end of the handle part 25 of the clamping member 9. The arm 31 extends angularly with respect to the arm 36. One end of the arm 37 is connected to the coil 35 and the other end of the arm is bent at right angles and fits within a notch 39 in the outer end of the handle part I2 of the clamping member 8. The coil 35 serves to urge apart the arms 36 and 31 and the latter in turn exert outward force on the handle .parts of the two clamping members and thus cause the jaw parts of the members to swing together. When it is desired to open the jaw parts of the members so as to space apart the jaw plates l and 29 the handle parts l2 and Hi are gripped and swung together against the force of the spring lil. Upon release of the handle parts the spring operates to force the jaw parts together and thus bring the plates I5 and 29 into clamped relation.

- (see Figure 4) In applying the patch P to the shoe S the marginal portion of the grain of the patch is first removed, as shown in Figure 2. This is done so that the marginal portion of the top face of the patch is rough. After stripping or removal of the marginal portion of the grain from the patch, the patch is inserted through the crack C by way of any suitable instrument, such for example as an awl. After being inserted through the crack the patch is spread out between the leather portion of the shoe and the shoe lining and is arranged so that the centralportion of the patch, that is the portion with the grain underlies the crack C, as shown in Figure 3. As soon as the patch is properly positioned with respect tothe crack a coating of celluloid cement or a like adhesive is applied to the top face of the patch and the bottom face of the contiguous part of the leather portion of the shoe. Preferably the cement or adhesive is applied by way of a brush which after being dipped in the cement or adhesive is inserted through the crack and then worked around so as to apply the coating to the proper faces After application of the coating of cement or adhesive the jaw parts of the clamping members 8 and 9 of the clamping device are spread apart by forcing together the handle parts of the members. As soon as the jaw parts have been opened to the proper extent the shoe upper is inserted between thetwo parts until a position is reached wherein the jaw plate I overlies the patch P and the jaw plate 29 on the jaw 28 of the clamping members 9 overlies the patch. Upon release of the handle parts of the clamping members the spring 10 serves to force the two jaw plates into clamping relation with respect to the patch, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The jaw plates are preferably held in clamped relation with respect to the patch until the cement or adhesive coating becomes thoroughly dry. Upon hardening or setting of the coating the clamp is removed from the shoe and the shoe repairing operation is thus completed. By reason of the fact that the jaw plates I5 and 29 are connected to the jaws of the jaw parts of the clamping members 8 and 9 by the way of bolts, it is possible readily toset the plates at different angular positions with respect to the jaws and thus to adapt the device to clamp patches under cracks in different portions of the shoe S. Because the handle parts of the clamping members 8 and 9 are offset with respect to the jaw parts they do not interfere with the application of the jaw parts to the shoe.

The herein described shoe clamping device consists of but a small number of parts and therefore may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It serves efficiently to hold a patch in place with respect to the shoe towhich it is applied and may be applied without change in design or construction toshoes which differ in shape and size. By reason of the fact that the jaw plates l5 and 29 are removably connected to the twisted extremities of the jaw parts of the clamping members either may be replaced with a plate having an electric heating element applied thereto so as to adapt the device for use in vulcanizing rubbers, boots, overshoes, and the like.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim .as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a clamp adapted for use in applying patches to shoes and comprising a clamping member formed of a strip of metal and embodying a straight handle part with a notch in the inner edge of the outer extremity thereof, an offset straight jaw part parallel to the handle part and an obliquely extending intermediate part between the handle and jaw parts; a complemental clamping member of strip metal embodying a straight handle part with a hole in the outer extremity thereof, an offset straight jaw part parallel to the handle part and an obliquely extending intermediate part between the last mentioned handle and jaw parts,

and arranged with the juncture of its intermediate and handle parts in lapped relation with the juncture of the intermediate and jaw parts of said first mentioned member and so that when it is in a closed position with respect to said first mentioned member its handle and intermediate parts .are substantially longitudinally aligned respectiveley with the jaw and intermediate parts of said first mentioned member; a pivot element extending through the aforesaid junctures and serving to connect the clamping members so that upon inward movement of the handle parts the jaw parts move away from one another and said coacting member swings out of its aforesaid closed position; and a coil spring arranged to urge the handle parts of the members apart so as to cause the jaw parts to move toward one another into clamped relation and having straight ends arranged in V-formation and having the outer ends thereof bent at right angles and disposed respectively in the notch and hole.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a clamp adapted for use in applying patches to shoes and comprising an upper clamping member formed of strip metal and embodying a straight handle part at one end, a straight jaw part at its other end disposed beneath and extending parallel to the handle part and having its outer extremity extending downwards and equipped with a jaw, and an obliquely extending intermediate part between and connected to the inner extremities of the handle and jaw parts; a lower complemental clamping member formed of strip metal and embodying at one end thereof a straight handle part beneath the handle part of the upper clamping member and at its other end a straight jaw part disposed beneath the jaw part of the upper clamping member and also disposed beneath and extending parallel to the second mentioned handle part and having its outer extremity extending upwards and equipped with a jaw directly opposite the jaw of said upper clamping member, and also embodying an intermediate part between and connected to the inner extremities of the second mentioned handle and jaw parts, said complemental clampingmember being arranged with the juncture of its intermediate and handle parts in lapped relation with the juncture of the intermediate and jaw parts of the upper clamping member and being constructed and designed so that when its jaw is in clamping relation with the jaw of the upper clamping member and it is hence in a closed position with respect to said upper clamping member its handle and intermediate parts are longitudinally aligned respectively with the jaw and intermediate parts of said upper clamping member; a, pivot element extending through the aforesaid junctures and serving to connect the two clamping member so that upon inward movement of the handle parts the jaw parts together with the jaws move away from one another into an open position and the complemental clamping member swings out of its aforesaid closed position; and a spring extending between and connected to the handleparts of the clamping members and arranged to urge the handle parts apart and cause the jaw parts together with the jaws to move toward one another.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a clamp adapted for use in applying patches to shoes and comprising an upper clamping member formed of strip metal and embodying a straight handle part at one end, a straight jaw part at its other end disposed beneath and extending parallel to the handle part and having its outer extremity bent downwards and twisted and equipped with a separately formed jaw plate, and an obliquely extending intermediate part between and connected to the inner extremities of the handle and jaw parts; a lower complemental clamping member formed of strip metal and embodying at one end thereof a straight handle part beneath the handle part of the upper clamping member and at its other end a straight jaw part disposed beneath the jaw part of the upper clamping member and also disposed beneath and extending parallel to the second mentioned handle part and having its outer extremity bent upwards and twisted and equipped with a separately formed jaw plate directly opposite the jaw plate of said upper clamping member, and also embodying an intermediate part between and connected to the inner extremities of the second mentioned handle and jaw parts, said complemental clamping member being arranged with the juncture of its intermediate and handle parts in lapped relation with the juncture of the intermediate and jaw parts of the upper clamping member and being constructed and designed so that when its jaw plate is in clamping relation with the jaw plate of the upper clamping member and it is hence in a closed position with respect to said upper clamping member its handle and intermediate parts are longitudinally aligned respectively with g the jaw and intermediate parts of said upper clamping member; a pivot element extending through the aforesaid junctures and serving to connect the two clamping members so that upon inward movement of the handle parts the jaw parts together with the jaw plates move away from one another into an open position and the complemental clamping member swings out of its aforesaid closed position; and a spring extending between and connected to the handle parts of the clamping members and arranged to urge the handle parts apart and cause the jaw parts together with the jaws to move toward one another.

JOSEPH PAVONI. 

